The Communication Initiative

[krisdev]

This is a contribution to the Drum Beat Chat discussion forum. We are currently discussing UNICEF's pilot solar-enabled communication hub, The BEE. For the opening note of this discussion, please see: http://forums.comminit.com/viewtopic.php?t=107035&style=2 For information on how to participate in or unsubscribe from this forum, and to view the archives of the forum online, please visit the following link: http://forums.comminit.com/viewforum.php?f=49&style=2
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I am a member of Comminit and read about your BEE Portable Solar Powered Communication Hub. Our hearty congratulations to you and your team members.

We have formed 'India Village Liberation (IViL)' mainly consisting of Social Activist from NGOs and students of Indian Institute of Technology - Madras, Chennai, one of the most premier technological institutions in India and have adopted Natham village in Thiruvallur District, Tamil Nadu State, South India for rural community development initiative.

We would like to take your support to provide connectivity to the rural community for the overall improvement of the village and for educating the girl child through the community school in the village to achieve the UN MDGs.

Photos of our visit can be seen at:

http://picasaweb.google.co.in/krisdev/IViL_Natham_visit_Nov09_2008?aut hkey=BybsgSyl1ZY#

Kris Dev
ICT & e-Gov Consultant, India

1 (206) 274 1635

[Deborah Heimann]

This is a contribution to the Drum Beat Chat discussion forum. For information on how to participate or unsubscribe to this forum, please see the footnotes below.
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Welcome to our September 2008 Drum Beat Chat discussion.

This month we focus on UNICEF's solar-enabled communication hub, The BEE, as detailed within issue #459 of The Drum Beat. I have included the details about the communication hub here, below. You can also read the full issue of The Drum Beat online here: http://www.comminit.com/drum_beat_459.html

The BEE is being developed to provide connectivity, information, and opportunity to people and communities in remote or emergency situations. The question for this group is: Based on your experience, where and in what situations do YOU think this tool could best be employed?

Please either reply to this email or send your thoughts to - we look forward to hearing from you.

Many thanks,
Deborah Heimann
Moderator - Drum Beat Chat


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The BEE - a solar-enabled communication hub

In June 2008, UNICEF's Division of Communication set out to complete a prototype of a portable solar-enabled communication hub that would (1) connect children even when there is no connectivity, (2) offer quick connectivity hubs in an emergency, and (3) provide informational, communication, and educational opportunities for children in remote and/or emergency situations.

The BEE, as the communication hub is now called, was originally envisioned as an information tool that could remain in the community/school after an emergency. However, as the prototype neared completion, it was evident that it could be used for a variety of purposes whether for information exchange, a radio station, a way to deliver curriculum, ensure business continuity, or deliver entertainment and give people, especially children, a voice.

The BEE is a package that can be easily transported - for example as checked luggage on a plane - to a location and set up by a field worker with limited technical knowledge. The BEE is designed to be transported as a set of secure flight cases, which are custom-engineered to lock together and, when assembled, to provide a kiosk-like setting for stability and safekeeping.

Please see some notes on the development of the BEE on the UNIWIKI: http://www.comminit.com/redirect.cgi?cimo=1&r=http://x.mepemepe.com/wi ki/The_BEE

Also see initial design sketches and photos: http://www.comminit.com/redirect.cgi?cimo=1&r=http://www.flickr.com/ph otos/29636224@N05/sets/72157606805627730/

The BEE can be used in situations where there is no electricity, using solar panels to power the device and charge batteries, which will provide power at night or during cloudy conditions. It can also be used at night to display video presentations and educational materials using low-power LED devices. Each "Queen BEE" station can communicate with other smaller "Worker BEE" sub-stations that are in the line of site (up to 100km away) using mast antennas–located either on physical antennas or placed high on structures or trees–providing VOIP and communications to other units. The BEE can also pull data from satellite feeds and be used to share stories and community maps, documentation, and essays with other users.


Situations in which the BEE functions


The BEE is more than an internet kiosk, it is a new way of thinking. It is an intersection of innovations. While still in the proof-of-concept phase, the BEE can be seen working in a variety of situations.

Emergency situation
In an emergency situation, a field worker can carry the unit into the affected area and set up a base of operation in a short time. The BEE will come with a bundled software package for emergency response. The unit will start-up, prompt for a login, then take the user directly to vital applications that provide up-to-date information on the situation. A survey tool will collect information from field workers or interested citizens on the status of disease, pit latrines, or number of people in a household. In refugee camps or internally displaced person (IDP) camps, the photo registration application will register lost children and project their pictures on a wall so that worried family members can easily find them. The BEE can connect with other units in the area to share data and give a layout of the overall situation.

Education Hub
The BEE can also be installed at the village school and serve a class of up to 40 children. Every night, the unit will download the curriculum for the next day. Schoolchildren in different parts of the country can talk and learn together using the videoconference application. Low-cost web-enabled mobile phones can be provided which will interact directly with the BEE unit to push out locally-stored information, such as an offline copy of Wikipedia (http://www.comminit.com/redirect.cgi?cimo=1&r=http://www.wikipedia.or g/). Even the lowest grade commercial non-WiFi enabled phones can be employed through short message service (SMS) to teach literacy to adults. As with the emergency software package, the BEE can come bundled with a standard education package. Round Box Global, a private sector business and technology consulting firm, is developing an online platform upon which diverse curricula can be uploaded, organised, and disseminated to young people with varied levels of connectivity and access to technology. Their project involves the creation and development of tailored learning management systems through which displaced teachers and students can access standards-based educational materials. This system is targeted at the world's most vulnerable populations, and initial testing and implementation would be, in coordination with UNICEF and the BEE, in areas of emergency, displacement, and dire need.

Community Support
The BEE can also function as an information hub for an entire community. With the Rosco software developed by UNICEF, the BEE can turn into a radio station on the go. Rosco is a fully functional radio station that runs on the free, open source Linux operating system. With its FM transmitter, the BEE can turn into a community radio station on-the-fly and broadcast stories recorded on the unit. With the RapidSMS software, the BEE can take the pulse of the community. RapidSMS is a SMS/audio system that allows for mass-scale SMS/audio output and input from a simple web-interface. The system can be used to send out SMSs to many users and groups with ease, as well as monitor and respond user's feedback in the form of responding SMSs or phone calls. Additionally, the system provides the ability to setup "forms" with various questions on it. One can then notify people who are collecting data for you and they can begin to send in data responses via SMS. Any trusted partner with an internet connection can watch the data come in, view it, and work with it immediately. This can tie the user in to the community via simple opinion polls as well as provide useful information about various indicators in the community. While the BEE can function as an individual unit, it also has the ability to sync with a central server. A community could put a Wi-Fi (wireless fidelity) tower on the tallest hill or tree in the community, and have the ability to link up any small device - a BEE, an ipaq Hewlett-Packard phone, or any device with web-based applications - to the local network. A central server could keep content offline and upload and download content whenever a dedicated internet connection is available. This central server could be anything from a laptop, to another BEE, to a dedicated server unit with battery backup in case the power fails.


The BEE Partners


The idea for the BEE was inspired by the work of some of UNICEF's partners, including the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research in South Africa (CSIR) (http://www.comminit.com/redirect.cgi?cimo=1&r=http://www.csir.co.za/) and its subsidiary the Meraka Institute (http://www.comminit.com/redirect.cgi?cimo=1&r=http://www.meraka.org.z a/), Inveneo (http://www.comminit.com/redirect.cgi?cimo=1&r=http://www.inveneo.org/  ), and Round Box Global (http://www.rbxglobal.com/#Home).

UNICEF and CSIR have a longstanding collaboration, working on such projects as MobilED. MobilED, a tool to access and participate in the internet via a normal mobile phone, was developed by CSIR, and then evolved into RapidSMS at UNICEF. With the Digital Doorway (http://www.comminit.com/redirect.cgi?cimo=1&r=http://www.meraka.org.z a/digitalDoorway.htm), CSIR is also a pioneer in internet-enabled information kiosks. Their knowledge of the field will be evidenced in the next revision of the BEE as UNICEF and CSIR collaborate again on a production model.

Inveneo is doing great work in the field, and partnered with BOSCO Uganda Relief Project (Battery Operated Systems for Community Outreach (http://www.comminit.com/redirect.cgi?cimo=1&r=http://www.bosco-uganda .org/) to provide access to computers, internet, and voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP) telephony for IDP camps in Northern Uganda (reported in the Drum Beat here: http://www.comminit.com/en/drum_beat_427.html See: http://www.comminit.com/en/node/135220). The BEE prototype uses an Inveneo flatpanel LCD.

AMD (http://www.comminit.com/redirect.cgi?cimo=1&r=http://www.AMD.com/) has also provided UNICEF with the computer motherboard and central processing unit (CPU) for the first BEE prototype.


Moving Forward


By early September 2008, UNICEF will have built a production-ready model with CSIR. This model will be more ruggedised, compact, and flexible. The Operation System and the user experience will also be improved over the working prototype. After the production-ready model is created, it will be tested in remote areas in South Africa. The goal is to test the BEE in five field locations that each pose unique climate, security, and remote location constraints.

The BEE will feature many of the software endeavours of UNICEF’s Division of Communication, the testing of which will accelerate the development process. All of the applications are lightweight, which means the applications favour small data transfers from the internet. RapidSMS and Rosco, explained above, are only two of the main applications on the BEE. It will also feature the Mizizi and OurStories applications, which will allow the user to upload his or her story and metadata to a Google Maps type interface. His or her story will appear as a point on that map and be available to everyone in the world. The next prototype of the BEE will also support a videoconference application that will be lightweight and easily allow people to communicate in a way they might not have been able to before.

UNICEF is looking forward to bringing the strengths from different sectors and locations together in order to create the BEE for application in real situations. The specifications and designs will be open source and creative commons.

With this issue of The Drum Beat, UNICEF is looking for feedback about where and in what situations the BEE could best be employed.

The BEE is not intended to replace the long-standing UNICEF standard educational response, but rather to supplement the learning environment and expand the opportunities for access to information of children and communities whether in post-emergency or remote settings. After rounds of testing, it remains to be seen how the BEE will fit in with current UNICEF projects, as well as allowing UNICEF's Division of Communication to expand into previously uncharted areas.


The minimum specifications for each BEE unit:


Note: "server" units serve client units if there is more than one BEE in the area, and have a greater hardware configuration (see parts lists for "Queen Bee" and "Worker Bee").
* Completely self powered (solar, wind, etc.) and able to provide 12 hours of continuous operation for all functions during a 24 hour period.
* All sensitive components sealed against dust, moisture, animals, and other possible environmental factors.
* Able to communicate with other units using TCP/IP at 1+ mega-bytes per second (Mbps).
* Able to provide FM transmission for 5+ kilometre (km) range.
* Able to provide web-browsing capability for at least one person at a time.
* Able to provide audio broadcast to an audience of 40 students at a time.
* Has a camera to capture both still and moving images.
* Has a microphone to record audio from near-range (within 2 meters).
* Has auxiliary audio inputs and outputs.
* Able to accept external storage devices (USB and SD).
* Requires authorisation from the administrator to boot from external device.
* Hardware-compatible with Linux and other Open Source operating systems.
* Has a reset function to either a server-unit defined configuration as well as a default configuration that can be activated both remotely and onsite.
* Has hardware watchdog to reset any sub-systems that lock up.
* Remotely monitor-able.
* Can operate within temperature and humidity extremes (-30 to 50 degrees Celsius and 5% to 95% condensing humidity).
* Modularised as to allow replacement or upgrade of components by non-technical users.
* The "server" unit is able to communicate with other systems on the internet via satellite and/or cellular (GSM, GPRS, EDGE, HSDPA, HSUPA, etc).
* The "server" unit is able to cache and store websites and serve them to other units.
* The "server" unit is able to push content and configurations to other units.
* The mast has provisions for mounting of antennas at least 6.5 meters above ground.
* The mast is self-supporting and able to maintain antenna direction in 25km/h wind gusts without guying.
* The mast has provisions for mounting solar panels or other means of powering the unit.
* The mast is connected to unit by a replaceable tether, which allows for power, radio signal, and data transmission to and from all mast-mounted hardware. The replaceable tether can be up to 7 meters long. Between the unit and the tower base.
* All exterior surfaces of unit and mast are composed of material that is highly resistant to rot, fungus, mold, termites, oxidation, and any other long-term decay.
* Include pictorial assembly and setup instructions attached to an internal surface.


Parts list of the BEE - Prototype 1:
Prototype 1 cost roughly US$6,000 to build, but costs will likely drop as the production process is streamlined.

"Queen Bee"
1. AMD Geode LX800 ION A603 500Mhz embedded low power motherboard w/ 1GB ram and 2GB PQI Disk-on-Module (http://www.comminit.com/redirect.cgi?cimo=1&r=http://wwwd.amd.com/cat alog/SalesCat.nsf/doclookupweb/CEF3492F57763CCF8625725800148E8D?OpenDo cument&id=First+International+Computer,+Inc.~ION+A603)
2. 15" TFT monitor - supplied by Inveneo Technologies along with ION motherboard, this is a "no-name" panel.
3. Ramsey electronics UAM2 20W amp for audio (http://www.ramseyelectronics.com/cgi-bin/commerce.exe?preadd=action&k ey=UAM2)
4. 3" waterproof marine speaker (http://www.comminit.com/redirect.cgi?cimo=1&r=http://www.rocktheboata udio.com/html/32291.html)
5. Samsung SP-P310ME LED based DLP projector (http://www.samsung.com/us/consumer/detail/detail.do?group=computerspe ripherals&type=dataprojector&subtype=ultraportableprojector&model_cd=S PP310MEMX/XAA)
6. Ubiquiti Networks Powerstation2 Access Point (http://www.comminit.com/redirect.cgi?cimo=1&r=http://ubnt.com/product s/ps2.php)
7. Radio Communication Lab RC2547T-FM PLL FM Transmitter (http://www.electronicsinfoline.com/rcl/product_info.php/cPath/1_15/pr oducts_id/
8. BP Solar SX-320J Modules x6 (http://www.bp.com/sectiongenericarticle.do?categoryId=9019646&content Id=7036975)
9. Morningstar ProStar PS-30 Charge controller w / remote battery temperature probe (http://www.comminit.com/redirect.cgi?cimo=1&r=http://www.morningstarc orp.com/en/pro-star)
10. Deka /MK S27 SLD G Gel Cell battery x2 (http://www.comminit.com/redirect.cgi?cimo=1&r=http://www.mkbattery.co m/pvsolar.php)
11. Logitech QuickCam Pro9000 (http://www.comminit.com/redirect.cgi?cimo=1&r=http://www.logitech.com  /index.cfm/webcam_communications/webcams/devices/3056&cl=us,en)

"Worker Bee"
1. AMD Geode LX800 ION A603 500Mhz embedded low power motherboard w/ 1GB ram and 2GB PQI Disk-on-Module
2. 15" TFT monitor
3. Ramsey electronics UAM2 20W amp for audio
4. 3" waterproof marine speaker
5. Ubiquiti Networks Powerstation2 Access Point
6. BP Solar SX-320J Modules (x6)
7. Morningstar ProStar PS-30 Charge controller w/remote battery temperature probe
8. Deka /MK S27 SLD G Gel Cell battery (x2)
9. Logitech QuickCam Pro9000

Go to http://www.comminit.com/redirect.cgi?cimo=1&r=http://x.mepemepe.com/wi ki/BEE_prototype_1_parts_list for a full online list of parts with links.


For more information on the BEE, please contact:

Erica Kochi
+1 646 226 6361


Christopher Fabian
+1 646 410 5122



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